Mandy Hakimi

After giving birth to her daughter, Mandy was shocked to learn how hard it was to find employment that was compatible with raising a family.

So, she decided to take action--founding the Family Fund, a nonprofit that provides cash grants to Chicago Jewish women who do not qualify for paid maternity leave from their employers.

Mandy also serves as Development and Communications Officer for The Friendship Circle of Illinois, an initiative that helps families who have children with special needs--welcoming them into the full range of social and Judaic experiences.

A theater lover, she directs and produces for Orot On Stage, a Chicago women's performance empowering Jewish women to seek their artistic passion on stage. Additionally, Mandy is a frequent host of open mics and spa nights to fundraise for Jewish causes.

Mandy is also an active member of Bais Menachem Chabad Center. 

AGE:
36

PRONOUNS:
she/her/hers

PRIMARY GIG:
Well first off, I have three little kiddos who keep me very busy. But for money, I specialize in Jewish nonprofit fundraising and copywriting. I've held permanent positions at a couple different organizations over the last decade, but I recently made the switch to fully freelance. It's pretty cool because I'm able to help Jewish nonprofits all over the country tell their stories and raise more money for their programming.

ON THE SIDE:
I run a nonprofit called The Family Fund, which provides cash grants to Jewish women in Chicagoland to cover unpaid/underpaid maternity leave. We've given out nearly $50,000 since 2019!

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME:
I won the city division of the Miss Junior America pageant for my hometown when I was 8 years old. I got to meet the mayor and be in a parade.

CELEBRITY DOPPELGANGER:
This is a topic of much debate. It has changed over the years, especially as I've switched up my hair. When I was a kid, it was Soleil Moon Frye a.k.a. Punky Brewster. As I got older, I heard Liv Tyler, and more recently someone suggested Zooey Deschanel, but I think it's just the bangs.

HOW YOU JEW IN CHICAGO:
My favorite way to Jew in Chicago is with Orot on Stage, a Jewish women's performance collective, full of ridiculously talented women, that I was lucky enough to discover when I moved here almost eight years ago. I grew up acting, dancing competitively, and singing, so performing has always been a huge passion of mine. I've had the privilege of co-directing/producing our annual original production for the last five years. Our most recent show in March featured a cast of 30 and drew a crowd of almost 400 women. It's a very special feeling to build something together from scratch and share it with our amazing Jewish community.